Election information

Why Local Elections Matter

For many voters, the most important election — perhaps the only election in which they vote — is for president. These races are covered by the media for months, even years prior to election day. The candidates are likely to be much better known, and the issues are presented as having national, even global, importance.

The case can be made, though, that it is in local government elections that voters can have the most power and the greatest influence.

A member who once served on a school board said to a friend in the next town, “If you see me shopping in your market, it’s because I’m in a hurry.” She meant, “If I shop in my market, I’ll get stopped by voters who have school district issues to discuss.”

At the local level, voters can attend board, commission, and committee meetings; read and understand minutes and staff reports; serve on citizen advisory committees; call officials at home; even stop them in the aisle of the supermarket.

It is the local government election where the local branches of the League of Women Voters feel the greatest responsibility and make the most effort with candidate debates and voter registration and information activities. If you are looking for information as the June election approaches, please visit our site again. If you are interested in helping others become informed voters, please join us!